THANKSGIVING 2008

There is much for which to be thankful this year.

We have the right and ability to thank God for the multitude of blessings He has showered on us. We know that all He does for us flows from His grace alone and not due to any act on our part. We are free to worship as we are led to do, and we have the Good News of Jesus Christ to share with the world, or as Jesus would have said if he was from my neck of the woods, "In Downingtown, and Chester County, and Pennsylvania, to the ends of the earth." Cf., Acts 1:8.

We live in a country that still has the standard of living that is the envy of the world. While we have brothers and sisters who do not live in the best of conditions, many who will be cold and hungry tomorrow, most of our "poor" live in much better conditions than people in the third world. What really pains me is to see the number of young people in America who throw away the opportunity given to each of them to get an education.

I have seen children sitting in a bullet-riddled one-room shack in Monrovia, Liberia, learning to read and write and cypher the old fashioned way--at the salvaged blackboard with the "school's" one or two precious pieces of chalk. They are well mannered, scrubbed and in their school "uniforms." They pay attention, because they and their parents realize the value of education. There are no complaints about lack of multi purpose rooms, computers, or gyms and athletic fields. They get their exercise after school as they work with their parents to get that day's food, only to start over the next day. And they smile shyly and sing in lovely childish voices.

We have completed that quadrennial drama known as a presidential election. There will be another change in administrations and yet, there are no tanks in the street, no politicians placed in house arrest for their political views, no riots in the street. While many of us voted for the other guy, come January 20, 2009, we will have only one president--and we will be free to praise him or criticize him without fear of a knock on the door in the middle of the night.

The Phillies finally won another World Series, although our football season appears to be all but dead. If the Arizona Cardinals administer the coup de grace tomorrow, that bullet to the brain will put the Eagles out of their misery for another year. But the Phillies won it all!

It is only 84 days until Spring. Oh, I know. You astronomical purists insist on pushing that date into March, but anyone with a lick of common sense knows that pitchers and catchers report in February to begin SPRING training. Please note that no one calls it "Late Winter training!"

And finally, as most of us celebrate here with family and friends, we must always be thankful for the few who are our warriors, the young soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and the Coasties, all of them having chosen to put our protection ahead of their comfort and safety. Many tomorrow will be in harm's way, and we owe it to them to keep them in our prayers. And don't forget their families who also sacrifice on our behalf.

Yes, we have much for which to be thankful.